Tape applier



July `13, 1.94.6- `l.. L. sixLFlsEwfRc;l l 2,404,317 TAPE APPLIER fFiled March 29, l9 45 y 2 Sheets-Sheet l ff 24,51%@ 10, 4, z5

Ullman" Patented July 16, 1946 TAPE APPLIER Leroy L.. Salfisberg, SouthOrangaN.Y J., assgnor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N.' J., acorporation of Delaware Application March .29, 1945,` Serial No.`585,405

I .This invention relatescto` a machineifor dispensing .and forapplyingY to, an article, such .as a

package, adhesive strips or sheets, for example; normally tacky orpressure-sensitive adhesive tape sold under the trade-mark Scotch Amachine of this type is disclosed `in my patent `Reissue 22,418 datedJanuary 11, 19,44.l

A primary object Yof my invention is to provide a machine whichshallembody novel and, vimproved means for dispensing pieces of Ytape of.predeterminedlength into aJp-redetermined position 4to be received bythefinger of the oper- .ator or to be engaged by a portion of an article,

such as a package, upon movementrof the latter in various directions. K.

vA linici-,her object is providejsuch a machine ,that is simple Vandinexpensive in construction ,and reliable and durable. Y

, Another object is tov provide 'su-cha 4machine in which all oi themotive power necessaryto operate it in normal use is supplied by themovement of the articles that are taped or sealed.

StillA anothery object is to provide a machine of .this character whichcan'be manually operated by a 'relatively unskilled operator and with i;

a minimum of attention and physical effort.

'Yet another object is to provide in a machinel ofthe general characterdescribed novel and improved means 'for withdrawing in successionpredetermined lengths of tape from a roll or strip, 1;

for vsevering pieces of the tapefrom thenroll or strip and forprojecting and holding the severed pieces in position to be gripped Vinthe ngers of lthe operator lor to beengaged by an article 4to which thepiece of tape is to be applied. y

Other objects, advantages and yresults o'f the description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a verticalsectional view of a gummed tape applicator embodying my inventionshowing the parts in inoperative position, with the frame forsup-porting the movable'parts ingopen posiltion in dot and dash lines.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 2--2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a front View of the applicator.

Figure 4 is ya fragmentary sectional view show-` ing the parts inoperative position. Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the plane ofthe line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modied form of:ny-invention.

` Figure '7 is a plan view of the device of Figure 6. Specificallydescribingthe 'embodiment of the 12 claims. (c1. 21o- 21) f inventionshown in Figures 1 to V5., inclusive, `the l tom edge.

Vinvention will be brought out bythe following gummed tape dispenserincludes afcasing or housing formed of metal or Aother suitable materialhaving a base I and side Walls 2 and 3'fo-rmed with inwardly extendingflanges 4 and 5, respectively, at their front edges between whichilangesthe tape to be app-lied is projected. Thebase Y extends upwardlyslightlyat thel rear to iorina wall extension 6, and .the base maybevprovide'd with rubberbuttons I .or the like for restinglfon anysuitablesupport. 4Thefc'asing is open at the top, bottom, front and reav Within the casingjis a frame indicated gener.- ally at 8 which ispivotally mounted on a pin 9 extending ,between the walls 2 and 3adjacent the rear wall extension 6. The frame comprises a plate IDformed with an upper integral ilange portion I I VVdisposed transverselythereof v,and forming `a closure forthe opper open end ofthe casing andwith a flange portion I 2.along its botie upper ilange Il ends ata pointremote from the irontof the casing and is provided with a downwardlyextending vertical flange portion I3 spaced inwardly ofits end. The

#lower iiange I2 extends upwardly at the `front of the casing formingasupport I4 for a. knife I 5 whichV has its edge disposed horizontallyacross the opening at the front of the casing,

Rotatably mounted on the plate I0 by vmeans Vof `ra shaft rI6 isa drumI'Ifor supporting a roll I8 of vadhesive tape. One type of `adhesivetape with which my dispenser and applier may be utilized is what isknown as ScotchWtape which generally comprises a strip of crepepaper,Cello- ;phane, or the like to-one side of which is applied a normallytacky or pressure-sensitive adhesive.

filapeV can be unwoundV from the roll without transfer or offsetting oftheV adhesive and the adhesive `may be caused to adhere to a surface bysimple application of pressure and without -activation of the adhesiveas by water, solvents or heat. The strip I9 of adhesiveis vunwound fromf the roll I8 and passes.upwardly.v between a guide spring 2i! .securedto the ilanger I3 and a guide roller 2i mounted on a stud 22 secured tothe plate I0 whereby the tape may be guided and pulled upwardly andforwardly through the opening in the front of the casing between thevvflanges 4 and 5.

Within the casing is also arranged meansior feeding the strip I9ofadhesive material so as to locate the free end portion'thereof. in apredetermined position to be engaged by the linger of the operator. Thisfeeding means includes a le- ;-ver 23 whichvislpivoted to the plate I0adjacent YFigures 6 and 7. ,the structure of the mechanism is shown sub-Figures 1 to 5 inclusive,

the bottom thereof as indicated at 24, which is y eccentric to the pivotshaft I6 of drum i1. Lever 23 is in the form of a at bar and normallyeX- tends upwardly and forwardly of the casing with its outer endprotruding through the opening in the front of the casing between theanges 4 and 5. At its outer front portion, the'leveris curved andbent'around upon itself to form a seat 2 5 for a finger piece 26 formedof rubber or the like which is in alignment with the strip of tape. .A

i spring 21 having one endv fastened to the plate" g I0 and its otherend to the lever 23 serves to re e turn and maintain the lever in normalposition.

Pivotally mounted on a stud 28 on the leverV 2,3

is another lever 2 3, which lever is positioned' alongside of lever 2'3between it and the side wall or like support 3l with the wall 35disposed horizontally and slightly above the top side of said support.The end of theadhesive strip projects normally upwardly through theopening in the top wall of the casing and the 'lever 23 is normallydisposed vertically and has a flat disc 38 of rubber or the like with acurved outer edge 4U on its outer end instead of a n'ger piece as inFig- Yure 1. The knife I5 is located below the plane of said top wall ofthe casing.

In using this form of the invention, the operator pushes the box 35 towhich adhesive tape is to be applied along the top wall of the casing inthe direction of the arrow as shown in Figure 2. At its outer end,lever'29 carriesa .barf 3U Y.

which extends inwardly, over and across the.y strip I9 of tape. Adjacentits inner end, the le-" ver 29Y is formed with an elongated slot-,3lvand "extending through said slot and through an l fopen'ing' 32 in thelever 23 isa stud 33 secured'in :the plate m.

In voperation ofthe machine so far described,

thepartsnormally are in the position shown by ""olid lines in VFigure gY estrip projecting through the opening at whe rrp/n1;Y ofthe alignmentvwithjthe finger piece 26,. Theoperator `places hisfiinger over the endof the strip: and *presses' down on Ythe Vfinger 1,"wth the end of theladcasing and directly above and in lpiece thereby moving-the lever 23iabout1its pivot pointagainst whereupon due to the tape will be pulledwith the connectionrbe- 29, ,thev latter lever 'round its pivot point 28withV .the outer end thereof moving down- "wardly, so` that the bar 30carried thereby strikes the strip of tape .point adjacentto and `,l5 asshown'in Figure with a sharp blow at a is being .heldby the fingeragainst the finger piece 26, the'strip .will be"severed, the severedportion clinging .to the finger of zsequently applied by him to theartlcle.

the' operator to be sub- Uponrelease ofpressure on the V1in-ger piece26,

the lever 23 willbe'swung upwardlyfunder the iny'uence of spring 2'!vcarrying lever 29 along with it tothe normal position of the parts asshown inlFigure l. During this Vingerpiece 26 will engage lextendingoutwardly beyond the roller 2|Y and upward movement, the

move it upwardly to its normal position as shown f Referring toV Figurewhereby the roll of adhesive tape can be readily ,mounted on or removedfrom the drum and the parts may be readilynspected or repaired andreloaded with tape.

Avmodication of the invention is shown in For convenience and clearness,

stantially the same as in inwardly of the knife edge Lfand as thestrp oftape4 the portionof the strip 1, the plate I0 and its ass'ociatedpartscan be swung upwardly and rear- ,'wardlygaboutits` pivot pin 9 clear ofthe casing walls vand base tothe dotted line'position shown 6 whereuponthe adhesive tape is pressed between the disc 38 and the end of theboxlso that the tape isadhesively attached to the box. Then the operatorcontinues to move the box in the same direction against the influence ofthe spring 21 whichcauses the disc to be moved by and with Vthe boxVuntil the disc and lever end is forced forwardly and Vdownwardlythroughv the opening ,as shown by dot and dash lines7 pulling theadhesive tape along into contact with the knife I5.V

During this movement of the lever 23, the'strik- Aing lever 29 isactuated and strikes against the tape thereby ysevering the same. At thesame VYtime, the. curved edge of the'disc wipes over the .only by thestate ofthe prior art and the ed claims. Y

severed piece of tape to securely attach the 'latter to the box. Whenthe box is lifted by the operator, the lever 23 will be swung in theother direction under the influence of spring 2 1, pushing the adhesivetape before itesc Vas to again project the end of the strip through theopening in thel top of the casing. Y

Changes in details of construction might be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention and Iy desire to belimited append- What I claim is: l. In a machine' ofthe `characterdescribed, a

,roll of adhesive tape, means for feeding said tape longitudinallytolocate its free end-portion in a predetermined position to be receivedby the zfinger o f the operator, said feeding means including a pivotedVlever having its free end normally positioned under and adjacent thefree end ofthe tape whereby said tape end is adapted to be held betweenthe finger and lever end, the pivot point of said leverand the point ofrotation of said roll beingso positioned relatively that upon manualmovement of the lever by the finger pressing upon said tape end, saidstrip of tapeV will be pulled longitudinally to said predeterminedposition.

v2. A machine of, the character described comprising a casing, means insaid casing forY rotatably supporting a roll of adhesivetapehaving apressure-sensitive adhesive on one side exposed. means for feeding said`tape longitudinally to vlocate its free endA portionrin a predeterminedY position to be received by the'finger of the operator, said feedingmeans including a pivoted lever having its pivot point disposedeccentrically of the point of rotation of said tape and having one endnormally positioned undery and adjacent the free end of the tape wherebysaid tape end is with the exception that the side of the casingthroughwhich the lever 23 projects has a flat or straight ange or wall35 along which may be 'slid a package 36 to which tape is to be app1ied.'The casing may be set in a hole in a table topt v adapted to beheldbetween the finger and lever end, a knife supported in said casing,a Vstriking lever pivotally mounted on said feeding lever and a slot andstud connection between said striking lever and said frame wherebyY uponmanual movement ofthe feeding leverby thev finger the striking lever ismoved in 'an arcuate path for striking the tape adjacent said knife tosever said tape.

3. A machine as defined in claim 2 characterized by spring means forrestoring the parts to normal position.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a casing having afront opening, a supporting plate in said casing, means on said platefor rotatably supporting a roll of adhesive tape having apressure-sensitive adhesive on one side exposed, means for. feeding saidtape longitudinally to locate its free end portion in said front openingto be received by the finger of the operator including a lever havingone end pivotally connected to said plate and its other free endprotruding through said opening, a linger piece on said protruding endand positioned under and adjacent the free end of the tape whereby saidtape end is adapted to be held between the finger and said finger piece,the point of rotation of said roll and the pivot point of said leverbeing so disposed relatively that upon manual movement of the lever bythe nger pressing said tape end, said tape is pulled longitudinally andin an arcuate path, a knife on said plate in the path of arcuatemovementl of said tape, a striking lever pivotally mounted on saidfeeding lever and a slot and stud connection between said leverswhereby` movement of the feeding lever is imparted to the striking leverfor striking the tape adjacent said knife to sever the tape.

5. A machine of the kind defined in claim 4 characterized by a spiralspring having one end fastened to the plate and its other end fastenedto the feeding lever for restoring the parts to normal position.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a support for asupply of tape with one end portion free, and means for feeding apredetermined quantity of such tape including a member movable towardand away from said roll support and against which said free end portionmay be pressed so that said member and said tape will move together andpull tape from a supply on said support, and means for severing the tapeincluding a knife blade and a striker actuated by said member forforcing the tape into contact with said blade.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a support for asupply of tape with one end portion free, and means for severing apredetermined quantity of such tape including a lever having itsswinging end normally located beneath said end portion of said tape sothat said tape may be pressed against said lever to move therewith, saidlever being pivoted relatively to said support so that when said tapeispressed against said lever and with sufficient force to swing said leverin one direction a predetermined distance a predetermined. amountV oftape will be pulled from said supply, and means for severing said tapeat a predetermined instant during said movement of said lever.

8. A machine of the characterl described, comprising means forsupporting a roll of adhesive strip material with its free end portionin a predetermined position to be engaged by an article upon movement ofthe latter in one direction, means for applyinga piece of said stripmaterial to said article including a feeding lever having its free endnormally disposed at the side of said f free end portion of said stripmaterial opposite said article so that said strip material will bepressed between said article and said lever and adhesively attached tosaid article upon movement of the article in one direction, said leverbeing movable by and with said article during continuation of saidmovement of said article so that said strip material will be pulledfromv lever actuated by said feeding lever for forcing said stripmaterial into engagement with said knife blade.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising means for supportinga roll of adhesive strip material with its free end portion in apredetermined position to be engaged by an article upon movement kof thelatter in one direction, -means for applying a piece of said stripmaterial to said article including a feeding lever having its free endnormally disposed at the side of said free end portion of said stripmaterial opposite said article so that. said strip material will bepressed between said article and said lever and adhesively attached tosaid article upon movement of the article in one direction, said lever Yrial at a point lbetween said roll and the portion of said stripattached to said article, said severing means including two relativelymovable parts one of which is a knife blade and the other of which isactuated by said feeding lever.

10. The machine set forth in claim '7 wherein said severing meansincludes two relatively movable parts, one of which is a knife blade andthe other of which is actuated by said lever.

, 11. The machine set forth in claim '7,` wherein said severing meansincludes a knife blade and a striking element actuated by said lever forforcing said strip material into engagement with said knife blade.

12. Ina machine of the character described, the combination with a rollof adhesive tape with one end of the tape projecting freely from theroll, of means for feeding said tape longitudinally, said feeding meansincluding a pivoted feeding lever having its free end normallypositioned adjacent the free end of the tape, said roll and said leverbeing so disposed relatively that upon manual movement of the lever inone direction with the end of said tape held against movement relativelyto said lever, said tape will be pulled longitudinally and unrolled fromthe roll, means ving lever for striking thetape adjacent the knife.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG, l

